Accountancy & Bookkeeping
Buying an accountancy or bookkeeping practice?
We arrange the finance. You get the keys.
An accountancy practice with a stable recurring fee base and a loyal client book is one of the most financeable professional business purchases available. The value sits in the client relationships and the annual fee income — contracted, predictable, and assessed very differently by specialist lenders than general business goodwill. That distinction matters enormously when it comes to structuring the funding correctly.
What lenders look at
Fee quality and client concentration are the starting point. Lenders will examine the gross recurring fee base, the spread of income across the client book, and the average client tenure. A practice generating fees across a large number of clients — with no single client representing more than five to ten percent of total income — is a significantly stronger proposition than one where a handful of large clients dominate the fee bank. Client concentration risk is the most common reason accountancy practice applications are restructured or declined.
Client retention history and transition risk are assessed carefully. Lenders will want to understand how clients have been managed through previous ownership changes or partner retirements — evidence that the client base is loyal to the practice rather than to the individual is central to a confident lending decision. A well-structured earn-out or handover period, where the outgoing principal remains involved during transition, materially strengthens the application.
The fee multiple and loan-to-value are assessed against the quality of the recurring income rather than the headline purchase price. Practices are typically valued at one to one-and-a-half times gross recurring fees — lenders familiar with the sector will advance against a well-established, diversified fee bank at meaningful loan-to-value ratios. Those unfamiliar with professional practice acquisitions will often apply generic goodwill assessment criteria that significantly undervalue the asset.
ICAEW, ACCA, or AAT membership and practice assurance are reviewed as part of due diligence. The incoming owner's professional registration and practice licence status must be confirmed before any funding offer is issued — lenders will not advance against a practice the buyer is not yet authorised to operate.
How we help
We are acquisition finance and loans brokers, not lenders. We package your application, present it to the funders with genuine professional practice appetite, and manage the process from first conversation through to completion.
We also arrange government-backed facilities for accountancy practice acquisitions — helping buyers access up to £2 million toward their purchase where the criteria are met.
Every practice acquisition is different. Tell us about the practice. We will take it from there.
For the wider funding options, explore business acquisition finance.
01 — Who we help
First-time practice owners, expanding principals, and everyone in between
First-time practice buyers
A qualified accountant or bookkeeper ready to move from employment into ownership — buying a client book, a practice, or a retiring partner's share for the first time.
Existing principals expanding
An established practice owner looking to acquire a second practice, merge with a competitor, or buy out a partner to consolidate ownership of the existing firm.
Sector specialists
An accountant with deep expertise in a particular sector — property, construction, hospitality, or healthcare — acquiring a practice that serves that same client base.
Investors and consolidators
A group or consolidator acquiring accountancy practices across the UK as part of a buy-and-build strategy.
02 — The opportunity
What can we help you buy?
We arrange acquisition finance and loans for a wide range of accountancy practice businesses across the UK — from sole practitioner practices to established multi-partner firms.
General practice acquisitions
General accountancy practices serving owner-managed businesses across the UK are the most common acquisition in this sector. Recurring fee income from bookkeeping, accounts preparation, tax returns, and payroll creates a predictable, assessable revenue base that specialist lenders understand well. The asking prices for leasehold and freehold accountancy and bookkeeping practices typically range from £100,000 to £2m.
Specialist sector practices
Practices specialising in a particular sector — construction, hospitality, property, or healthcare — command premium valuations reflecting the depth of sector knowledge and the strength of client relationships. Specialist expertise is harder to replicate and creates stronger client retention, which lenders recognise in the funding terms available.
Practices with high recurring fee income
The proportion of recurring versus one-off fee income is the most important factor in how lenders assess an accountancy practice. A practice with 80 percent or more of income from annual retainer clients is valued — and funded — significantly more confidently than one dependent on ad hoc project work.
First-time practice buyers
Many qualified accountants employed within practices or larger firms are ready to move into ownership. Lenders assess professional qualifications, relevant experience, and the quality of the client transition plan alongside the financial profile of the practice. Strong sector experience carries real weight even without prior ownership.
Expanding to a second practice
Established practice owners looking to grow through acquisition find that a strong track record from their existing practice materially strengthens the funding application. We structure multi-practice funding for accountancy firms looking to consolidate client bases and expand their geographic reach across the UK.
Practices with payroll and bookkeeping divisions
Practices with established payroll processing and bookkeeping divisions generate high-frequency recurring income alongside annual accounts work. The frequency and predictability of this income is assessed very favourably by specialist lenders when structuring the acquisition finance and loans.
03 — The transaction
What can we finance?
The Business Purchase
Funding to buy a trading business, including goodwill and the business assets.
The Freehold
Funding for the purchase of the premises from which the business operates.
The Leasehold
Funding to buy a business operating from leased premises.
Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment
Where appropriate, funding can also take account of the assets required to operate the business.
Working Capital
Depending on the transaction, we can arrange funding for the initial working capital required after you take ownership.
Every deal is assessed on its own merits — not every element of every purchase will be financeable, and we'll tell you plainly what is and what isn't.
04 — The lender's view
What will lenders look at?
Lenders want to see a professionally prepared funding application. They want to know that the business is viable, that the proposed borrowing is affordable and that their loan can be repaid as agreed.
We use our proven iLendi Six™ method to build a strong funding application around the things lenders need to understand about your purchase.
Read more about the iLendi Six™05 — The funding
How much can you borrow?
Every purchase is different. The amount you can borrow will depend on the business, its trading performance, the purchase price, your circumstances and the structure of the transaction.
For accountancy practices, lenders will focus on the quality and tenure of the recurring fee base, the level of client concentration, the proportion of income from annual retainer clients versus one-off work, and the transition plan for retaining clients post-acquisition. Practices with diversified client bases and low concentration risk attract the strongest lender appetite.
We arrange funding across the UK and work with you to find the financing solution that best fits the purchase.
06 — The completion
The iLendi Approach
Three steps from finding the business to owning it.
01
The Discovery
You have just found the business you want. You tell us all about it.
02
The Finance
You need financing to buy the business; we find the money.
03
The Completion
We stay by your side through to legal work completion and the business is yours.
Common questions
Buying an accountancy or bookkeeping practice — your questions answered
How much deposit do I need to buy an accountancy practice?+
Deposits for accountancy practice acquisitions typically range from 20 to 30 percent of the purchase price, depending on the quality of the fee base, the level of client concentration, and the buyer's professional background. Practices with high recurring income and low client concentration may attract better terms.
How are accountancy practices valued?+
Accountancy practices are typically valued at a multiple of gross recurring fees — usually 0.8 to 1.2 times annual recurring fee income for a standard general practice, with premium practices commanding higher multiples. The quality, tenure, and concentration of the client base are the primary value drivers. We can help you assess whether an asking price reflects the quality of the fee bank you are acquiring.
Can I borrow against goodwill when buying an accountancy practice?+
Yes. Specialist lenders who understand professional practice acquisitions will lend against goodwill where the trading history and client retention support it. The application has to be presented so the lender can see the quality and sustainability of the recurring fee income behind that goodwill.
What happens to clients after I take over a practice?+
Client retention is the central concern in any accountancy practice acquisition — and it is assessed carefully by lenders. A well-structured handover period, where the outgoing principal introduces the buyer to clients and stays available for a transition period, materially improves both retention rates and lender confidence. We help you build a transition plan that addresses this from the outset.
How long does it take to arrange finance for an accountancy practice purchase?+
Indicative terms are usually available within 48 hours of your enquiry. A formal offer typically follows within two to four weeks, with completion driven by the pace of the legal work and any professional body notifications required. Practice acquisitions are generally straightforward transactions for specialist lenders who understand the sector.
Is iLendi Capital a lender or broker?+
iLendi Capital is an acquisition finance and loans broker, not a direct lender. We work with buyers across the UK to prepare their funding applications, introduce them to the lenders most likely to approve them, and manage the deal through to completion. We also specialise in government-backed facilities, helping you secure up to £2m toward your purchase.
Keep exploring
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Found your accountancy or bookkeeping practice?
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Other ways to contact us
Send an email:enquiries@ilendicapital.co.ukCall us: +44 (0)20 3488 8126We'll open WhatsApp with: "Hello iLendi Capital — I'm looking at buying a business and would like to talk."